List your lapband confessions here.

[Gibson 7]

Angie, this overeating monkey on my back is hard to shake. I mean logically, why should fear of making myself sick stop me from eating bad things now just because I'm banded? It didn't stop me for 38 years before now and I knew I was killing myself. I need a LOT of headwork.

This is how the chalupa saga unfolded...

I went to get the pintos and cheese. Not too bad, definitely considered a mushie. So I rationalized it thinking, "A lot of surgeons tell their patients they can start on mushies after a week. Surely I'll survive since I've been banded for a week." So I drove through, saw my old favorite the Baja chicken Chalupa staring me the face and thought, "I'll get one and just eat the chicken. I'll chew it until it's gruel and that's like a mushie, right?" It was all downhill from there. I ate the chicken. The cheese. The lettuce. Then I thought, "I'll just nibble the teeny, tiny, super crisp edges of the chalupa. That can't hurt." The next thing you know....DEVOURED. I kept waiting for the feeling of imminent death to come upon me but I never felt sick at all. I had NO trouble getting the whole thing down either. I didn't eat the Beans at that time, though. I was way too stuffed for that.

[bthin4me 0]

Thank you so much for the kind words and advice. I will take it seriously and remember that what works for one may not work for all. I will however continue to come here (alot) for the support. My sis and I are going through this together so thankfully we will be able to understand and help each other. ~good luck all~

[jnbwilds 0]

Love this thread - Gibson, you're a hoot - I love your authenticity.

So far, have been pretty good - flawless pre-op diet, stuck pretty well to the liquid/mushy/soft phases. But I'm happy to unload the few confessions I have. Bless me, I have sinned....

1. Week 3 post-op: Appetite returns, weight plateaus, bitterness sets in. Go to movies with sister who cruely eats popcorn (asked me if I would mind - I lied and said no problem). Buy a carton of Dibs (little ice cream bites) and tell my sister to hold me accountable to eating a few and tossing the rest. Eat them all - and show sister empty carton.

2. A few times over past 2 weeks, eat 1 full cup of Soup or chili and record 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup in food journal. Become guilty over lies and erase lie and record truth (sometimes).

3. Had 3 oz. of salmon for dinner last night. Fish is salty no matter how much you chew it. Lusted after Water glasses by plates of DH and 8 year old. Took a big gulp of 3 year old's milk when no one was looking.

Whew....I feel unburdened!

[malby 0]

Everyone on here seems to have a different diet. I was supposed to do a milk and yogurt liquid diet for a week befor emy surgery but I read on teh in ternet that Atkins makes your liver shrink so I did that instead. It was my birthday in that week so I booked a spa day for myseld and my daughter and the food that was provided was phenominal. I managed to avoid bread but ate so much else and then decided to treat myself to a chocolate dipped strawberry that was provided for afternoon tea. they were so good that I ate 15!!!

My liver was fine, he said that he had lots of room and I have a 15cm fibroid in there as well.

Post op, I can have anything that can be sucked through a straw for 2 weeks. then I can have anything that I tolerate after that, but no bread, rice or chicken for 3 months. I dont really have a mushy stage, they said start with things like cottage pie and work up.

This seems so different to everyone elses experiences. My doctor has performed upwards of 1500 bands and been involved in lots of slippage research and this is what he recommends.

I find it so confusing that everyone has different guidelines...

[micks 0]

ok

I'm one week post band (27th Feb) and have been advised to stick to a liquid diet for two weeks.

Part of my problem is that I keep thinking "oh, I wonder if I can eat this?" and turns out that I can.

day 2 - scrambled eggs for Breakfast

day 3 - scrambled eggs and a milk roll for Breakfast. That evening, I also managed to eat 4 chocolates (never been a chocolate eater, but these were yummy, hand made, belgian chocolates)

day 4 - on the way home (6 hour trip) we couldn't find anywhere that would do me a Soup. So I had ate the cheese and ham filling from a sandwich - literally a slice of ham and a slice of cheese - and then some of the flatbread.

Have been very good since - I've been making home made Soups, which taste lush and occupy my time. However, last night, I had a Gu brownie. I just wanted texture!

I am still eating considerably less than before and am filling up really quickly. I am very aware of not overeating and have been visually gauging my food, so that even if I don't necessarily feel full I will stop. I have learnt that 20-30mins after stopping I'll suddenly feel as if I've eaten a cow!

All kudos to those who've been able to stick to the liquids only, etc. To me, though, this only led to misery so as long as I am sensible and self aware, I'm happy to try out new things and adjust my diet accordingly.

[shortgal 5]

One of the problems with "cheating" is once you let those "foods that cause cravings" back in we can;t stop. We're addicts!

Sticking to the high Protein helps that until you get to a level of restriction that really helps.

We all know if a smoker quits, and then has even one cig. they'll be back full force smoking again in no time, same with a drinker, one drink and they're full blown again. That's the problem with food, we cannot give it up completely! But it's usally carbs we're addicted to.

My suggestion, do one or two days of clear or full liquids, high Protein ones. Avoid any with too many carbs and detox those carbs right out. Then stick to what ever stage you're on and keep those carbs low! Once you get the right restriction, it should be much better!

[jlobyxmas 0]

Gibson, you crack me up--always know your posts will be entertaining:lol:

For myself I stuck to the mushies for the most part for the first 12 days, but then I couldn't take it anymore, I had a mozarella stick that I chewed to oblivion.

I also did something that I swore that I would NEVER do, they had chicken salad sandwiches at work the other day and I just had to have one, so I took one chewed it up and then spit it out:drool5:. The whole time thinking---"Megan you are f**kin pathetic:cursing:"

So here I am 15 days out of surgery and I'm starting to test the Water with more and more things. Did you know that if you bite into a milky way and leave it in your mouth long enough it melts right down your throat:w00t:.

I know it's hard and at times seems impossible, but hang in there and get right back up on the horse when u fall off.

[awomangodcanuse 0]

i am trying this tickler stuff let me c if it works

[coolcrystal 1]

OMG, everybody is cracking me up here!

For my post op diet I followed it exactly until I got to day 5. It said "watery cream soups" on the schedule and I tried refried Beans for the first time.... then on day 8 it said "refried Beans, yogurt and mashed potatoes" , but I called my banded friend and she said that if I wanted to try something more solid try tuna with some light miracle whip on grain or wheat crackers and mush it up really well in my mouth, So I did. I had three crackers with the tuna very slowly and it was wonderful!!

Then another banded friend was like, "NO, your stomach will try to churn the Protein up and you could hurt yourself".. so, this whole time I have been freaking out since Tuesday wondering if I had a slip or something.... and scared to even eat refried beans now.. lol... but after reading all this, I feel so much better.. I will continue with the mushies until day 14 which is what he requires... On monday I will try a little more gutsy items.

Oh and my big "naughty" item..... I drank half a chocolate shake yesterday!!!!!! My god, I've never tasted such a wonderful shake in my life!!!!!!! My biggest enemy before was breads... I ate so much bread a day that I can't believe I am still alive at all! since I know I can't have the bread, which was my main naughty item, I think I'll do good on this band and oddly, I still have lost of restriction right now. One of those sugar free pudding cups fills me up right now and a can of cream Soup lasts me like 3 meals...

The one thing that makes me feel a little better is something my doc told me.. he said that after the first week everybody is different... what might be my day 8 might be another's day 10.. in other words, if I feel I'm ready to eat something on his schedule thats a few days ahead, then go for it.

[tinaf 0]

One of the problems with "cheating" is once you let those "foods that cause cravings" back in we can;t stop. We're addicts!

Sticking to the high Protein helps that until you get to a level of restriction that really helps.

We all know if a smoker quits, and then has even one cig. they'll be back full force smoking again in no time, same with a drinker, one drink and they're full blown again. That's the problem with food, we cannot give it up completely! But it's usally carbs we're addicted to.

My suggestion, do one or two days of clear or full liquids, high Protein ones. Avoid any with too many carbs and detox those carbs right out. Then stick to what ever stage you're on and keep those carbs low! Once you get the right restriction, it should be much better!

Well said!!!! --

You are so right - I have found myself on the "slipperly slope" on more than one occassion-- "hmmmm if I can eat a cracker....why not a chip..... why not a PIECE OF PIE....." okay so maybe I haven't eaten the pie - but I can't say I havne't been tempted ----

so much of what we are dealing with too is HEAD HUNGER and getting past that feeling that "I should be eating something" --- because - for me - that's what I did before surgery - sometimes just to pass the time-- HOW SAD IS THAT??????

[minock 0]

I haven't been perfect myself. I ended up being readmitted to the hospital 2 days after my surgery so I went about 5 full days w/o eating or drinking anything because of the nausea. I was starting to get concerned that I would never get my appetite back. However, my DD had a cheer competition out of town the day after I got back out of the hospital. I ended up having mashed potatoes and Soup while there. It's really hard to travel when you are on a liquids only diet. I also had 4 shrimps since we all went to a seafood restaurant on day 8. I've been better since I got back home but I definitely started the mushy phase earlier than I should have.

I have restriction even though all the saline was removed from my band while I was in the hospital. I think I have a sensitive system so I'm scared that the nausea will return when I get my first fill.

Thank for the thread... it makes me feel like I'm not the only one who struggles with being good.

[shortgal 5]

so much of what we are dealing with too is HEAD HUNGER and getting past that feeling that "I should be eating something" --- because - for me - that's what I did before surgery - sometimes just to pass the time-- HOW SAD IS THAT??????

Oh yeah, Head Hunger. That voice that tells your stomach, that it can't possibly be full on a small portion. Our brain tells us, we'll starve if we don;t eat more. If I measure out my portion and eat it, at times I want more, but I find if I stop and wait 20 mins, my brain finally gets the message we're full.

If I'm hungry between meals, I drink a bottle of Water first and then re-evaluate my hunger and many times I can go until the next meal.

so many new things to re-learn. A day at a time. Some easier than others!

[BlessedTwice 1]

Forgive me I have sinned....

I ate a cup of very yummy broccoli cheese Soup from an area restaurant. And because it wasn't low-fat I felt guilty.

[mhazelrigg 1]

Gibson,

I have been too afraid to eat anything solid. Today I called Dr's office, because I realized that I started solids a week early. The RN, said that it was fine as long as I as not sick. Then today we made biscuits at school. I took a bite and chewed it up really well. Then I took another bite, and something happened and I wasn't thinking about it, swallowed too big of a bite. WOWEE!! The pain was in my back. It hurt to swallow. Then I decided that I had to try to wash it down and tried to take some sips of Water. After a few minutes, it was better. They are not kidding when they said that I have to really chew my food! I guess it is one of those things that you don't really know where the line is until you go over it.

But I have to admit, last week, I bought Reese's eggs for.....well for me, but I tell people it was for my kids. Anyway, I ate one, really slow. Then I ate another. Then I hid it in my van. The next morning, I ate three of them. Thankfully, my son found them and put me out of my misery by eating the rest with his friends.

I told myself that it is just that time of the month, but the reality is, I can be a binge eater. Too bad we can't invent something to change that. We would be rich!!

[Imtrying 0]

OK this may not be what you are looking for but this is my confession.

I will be banded for 5 yrs 4/1 I did great the first yr lost 165 lbs but with many struggles I was soooo hungry! all the time!!! All I ever ate was protien shakes h2o and mushy foods I was very disaplined my first yr. well all went to heck in a handbasket and started to eat anything I could get down I was just hungry sad to say everything BAD for me ie. Cookies shakes, ice cream...... need I say more? thank God I maintaied my weight but now I have been slowly going back up. and I should tell you in these past 5 yrs I got out of a relationship and into a good one and married, and had a baby a year ago. and gained NO weight during my pregnecy!!! for a first time! well now I just can"t seem to get back on the wagon. I tried I go to meetings and talked to my band DR. because I cant eat anything good for me, meat is out of the question. no matter how much I chew. raw veggies, fruit... all plugs me I can't even eat yogart with chunks in it. I just want to eat a salad with onions, peas baco bits and ranch, and HO how I LONG for a roast beef sandwich w/ cheese, lettuse and mayo on whole wheat bread. my to fave things I havent had in 5 long years! I really am thinking about having my band either removed and have a bypass or try it with drained all the way I have a 4cc band and when I got pregnant I had my fill taken down to 2cc from a 3.5cc and I cant tell any difference between the two so I don't know if nothing will help. sorry this was so long but this is what I have been doing the last 4 yrs eating nothing but junk! junk! junk! as I'm eating M&M's now :crying: I'm hungry!